Opposition alliance that backs N.Korea?

Some 20 leaders of the so-called Civic Society comprising the main opposition Democratic United Party and the minor United Progressive Party made a joint declaration of the opposition alliance March 13 at the National Assembly. The declaration read, “We will win in the April 11 general elections by following the public’s order, and achieve a transition of government.” A commemorative photo from the event shows main opposition leader Han Myeong-sook, United Progressive Party Co-Chairwoman Lee Jung-hee and Seoul National University professor emeritus Baek Nak-cheong sitting together in the front row. Among those standing in the back row are Noh Soo-hee, vice chairman of the South Korean headquarters of the Pan-Korea Coalition for Reunification of the Motherland (Beomminryeon), who is seen tightly clenching his fist.

Now in his late 60s, Noh is known as a stanch pro-North Korea figure who has engaged in activities supporting the North since the coalition`s foundation in 1990. Since the detention of coalition leader Lee Kyu-jae after the Supreme Court ruled the group a pro-North Korea organization in 1997, Noh has served as interim chairman. Noh has also served as co-chairman of the National Coalition, an alliance of 14 anti-government activists groups including Jeondaehyeop (National Council of College Students and the predecessor of Hanchongryon), and Junnong (National Farmers’ Coalition). Despite the South Korean Unification Ministry’s disapproval, he visited North Korea on March 25 on the occasion of the 100-day anniversary of the death of North Korea leader Kim Jong Il.

Visiting Mankyongdae, the house where North Korea founder Kim Il Sung was born, March 26, Noh wrote in the guestbook, “I make a sincere apology to the people of the fatherland and Mankyongdae on behalf of the Lee Myung-bak government, which committed an anti-humanitarian atrocity during the national funeral.” The next day, he visited Kumsusan Taeyang Palace, which houses the mummied bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, and laid memorial flowers with a memo reading, “Great Dear Leader Compatriot Kim Jong Il stays with us forever.” This shows the dark shadow of pro-North Korea ideology surrounding South Korea’s opposition alliance. Nevertheless, the opposition camp is emphasizing that the coalition is "a representation of clear orientation and values for the future of the Republic of Korea, which will newly unfold after the presidential election and going beyond the general elections.” Exactly what values are they pursuing?

When the Rev. Kang Hee-nam, who served as honorary chairman of the South Korean headquarters of Beomminryeon, died in June 2009, the now-defunct Democratic Party issued an official commentary saying, “We will inherit the unfulfilled dream of the deceased, who devoted his entire life to unification of the Korean people and democracy in this country.” Kang said, "Only North Korea has earned the legitimacy of the Korean people, and hence my fatherland is North Korea.” He also led a protest rally to remove the statue of Gen. Douglas Macarthur in Incheon.

North Korea is sending a growing number of messages urging the opposition in South Korea to unite, saying, “The opposition should give a crushing defeat to conservative forces in the upcoming general elections.” Suspicions are mounting that the national coalition of the opposition groups, the first of its kind in South Korea’s constitutional history, is a move taken under the secretive “instruction” of Pyongyang. The opposition camp should make clear its position.